Lock



June 2, 1936. V F. E. THOMPSON LOCK Filed Aug 19 1952 l fifa? A TTORNE y Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES z uazt ATENT OFFIE LOCK Application August 19, 1932, Serial No. 629,437

17 Claims.

My invention relates to pin-tumbler locks, and more particularly to means for preventing the surreptitious operation of locks of that type.

More particularly, my invention embodies a model arrangement of the tumblers and drivers relatively to the plug and cylinder of a pin-tumbler lock, whereby the drivers permit of a slight rotation of the key plug upon application of a picking torque to the key plug and with the drivers so constructed that after permitting this forceful rotation, they cooperate with specially designed means for preventing their complete upward movement within the cylinder to a position where the full free movement of the plug will be possible.

More in detail, my invention embodies a cylinder using mushroom, or partially cut-away drivers of the class already known in this art, and having a specially designed head for cooperation with a specially designed groove in the cylinder in substantially juxtaposed, or preferably, tangential relation to the regular driver bore. Each driver is so arranged and constructed that it will permit slight rotation of the key plug relatively to the cylinder, but when in the slightly rotated position, will cooperate with the cylinder groove to prevent its complete upward movement into its cylinder chamber.

Fora further description of my invention, 1 shall refer to the drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a section of a pin-tumbler cylinder showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 illustrates my driver and cylinder construction when the plug has been rotated by torque applied thereto. Fig. 3 shows the proper positioning of the driver by usual operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral It indicates a cylinder having a bore l I in which is mounted a key plug i2 having a series of pin-tumblers l3 mounted in bores i l in the usual manner. Aligned with each plug tumbler bore I4 is a driver bore [5 located in the cylinder portion and containing a spring It for pressing a driver 11 down against the tumbler It. This driver has a cut-away portion l8 leaving a mushroom head l9, and forming an upper surface 20 with the cut-away portion I8. The bore I5 preferably runs to the periphery of the cylinder bore H in which the key plug rotates, so that full use may be made of the entire bore to obtain a maximum number of key changes. The particular arrangement also assists in carrying out the functions of my look.

In my preferred form, in juxtaposed and preferably tangential relationship to each driver bore it, there are a pair of grooves 2| and 22 formed in the bore ll of the cylinder l0, which grooves are adapted to cooperate with the faces 20 of the mushroom heads 15 as will be apparent later. These grooves are preferably formed longitudinally in the plug bore l l, but it will naturally be appreciated that short individual grooves may be used for each driver bore or for groups of driver bores.

The action of my invention is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the tumblers I3 and the drivers ll, when the tumblers 13 are properly positioned by a key. In the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3, rotation of the plug I? will readily occur in the usual manner of pin-tumbler looks, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Should anyone attempt to operate the combination of tumblers and drivers illustrated in Fig. l, in a surreptitious manner, by exerting a rotating torque on the plug and attempting to pick the drivers ll upward entirely within their bores it, as in Fig. 3, the parts will locate themselves in accordance with the position of Fig. 2. The cut-away portions N3 of the drivers I! permit the slight rotation of the plug illustrated in Fig. 2, but when the tumblers !3 are then actuated by a picking tool to force the drivers in an upward direction, to their release position of Fig. 3, the surfaces 20 of the mushroom heads l9 will strike the upper parallel surfaces of the groove 2 l The relation of the surfaces 20 of the mushroom head and of the groove will then be such that upward movement of the drivers will be impossible in the particular position of the parts, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Naturally, backward rotation of the plug to withdraw the mushroom heads from the groove 2! will place the parts in the initial position of Fig. 1.

While I have thus shown and described a particular modification of my invention, it should be understood that my invention is of relatively basic character and that modifications of the same within the scope of the appended claims will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a pin-tumbler lock having a cylinder portion, a key plug, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said key plug and cylinder, a tumbler and a mushroom headed driver in said respective bores, said cylinder having a locking groove tangential to the cylinder bore, the head of said mushroom driver being cooperable with said groove.

2. In a pin-tumbler lock having a cylinder por tion, a key plug, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said key plug and cylinder, a tumbler and a mushroom driver in said bores, and a groove in said cylinder juxtaposed relatively to the cylinder bore and allowing entry of the mushroom head of said driver when the same is pushed upwardly in said aligned bores with torque applied to said key plug.

3. In a pin-tumbler lock having a cylinder portion, a key plug, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said key plug and cylinder, a tumbler and a mushroom driver in said bores, a groove in said cylinder juxtaposed relatively to the cylinder bore, a surface of said groove being parallel and in direct blocking relation to the under surface of the mushroom head of said driver, when said driver is pushed upwardly in the bores with torque applied to the plug.

4. In a pin-tumbler look, a key plug, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said plug and cylinder, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver having a cut-away portion so that it permits slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, a groove in said cylinder in juxtaposed relation to the bore therein, and a surface of said cut-away driver portion adapted to cooperate with a blocking surface of said groove to prevent camming of said driver entirely within the cylinder bore when torque is applied to said plug.

5. In a cylinder pin-tumbler look, a cylinder having a bore, a key plug in said bore, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said cylinder .and plug, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver having a portion thereof cut away so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, and a specially formed portion in said cylinder plug bore with which a surface of said driver formed by said cut-away portion cooperates to prevent complete movement of the driver into its cylinder bore when torque is applied to the plug.

6. In a pin-tumbler lock having a cylinder portion, a key plug, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said plug and cylinder, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores being arranged to permit slight rotation of said plug upon application of torque whereby to position the driver angularly in said bores, and a groove in the cylinder cooperable with .a surface of said driver when said driver is in said angular position to prevent movement of the driver completely into the cylinder.

'7. In a pin-tumbler lock having a cylinder portion, a key plug, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said plug and cylinder, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores .arranged to permit slight rotation of said plug upon application of torque whereby to position the driver angularlyin said bores, a specially designed head formed on said driver, and a groove in the cylinder cooperable with a portion of said head when said driver is in its angular position, whereby to prevent movement of said driver entirely within the cylinder while torque is applied to the plug.

8. In a cylinder pin tumbler look, a cylinder, a key plug, aligned bores in said plug and cylinder, a tumbler actuated driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores being arranged to permit slight rotation of said plug upon application of torque to the plug whereby to position the driver angularly in said bores, said cylinder having a specially formed portion in juxtapositionto the meeting point of the plug and cylinder aligned bores and acting to block the upward movement of said driver when torque is applied to the plug.

9. In a cylinder pin tumbler look, a cylinder, a key plug, aligned bores in said plug and cylinder, a tumbler actuated driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores being arranged to permit slight rotation of said plug upon application or torque to the plug whereby to position the driver angularly in said bores, said cylinder having a grooved portion in juxtaposition to the meeting point of the plug and cylinder aligned bores and cooperable with a portion of the driver to block the upward movement of said driver when torque is applied to the plug.

10. In a cylinder pin tumbler look, a cylinder, a key plug, aligned bores in said plug and cylinder, a tumbler actuated driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores being arranged to permit slight rotation of said plug upon application of torque to the plug whereby to position the driver angularly in said bores, said cylinder having a specially formed portion in juxtaposition to the meeting point of the plug and cylinder aligned bores and acting to block the upward movement of said driver when torque is applied to the plug, said specially formed portion being tangential relatively to said bores so as to allow for complete utilization of said bores for varying the tumbler lengths.

11. In a cylinder pin tumbler look, a cylinder, a key plug, aligned bores in said plug and cylinder, a tumbler actuated driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores being arranged to permit slight rotation of said plug upon application of torque to the plug whereby to position the driver angularly in said bores, said cylinder having a grooved portion in tangential juxtaposition to the meeting point of the plug and cylinder aligned bores and acting to block the upward movement of said driver when torque is applied to said plug, said grooved portion being tangential relatively to said bores so as to allow for complete utilization of said bores for varying the tumbler lengths.

12. In a cylinder pin-tumbler look, a cylinder having a bore, a plug in said bore, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said cylinder and plug, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and bores being formed so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, and a specially and additional formed portion in said cylinder with which a specially formed surface of said driver'intermediate its length cooperates to prevent complete movement of the driver into the cylinder bore when torque is applied to the plug.

13. In a cylinder pin-tumbler look, a cylinder having a plug bore, a plug in said bore, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said cylinder and plug, a driver lying normally partially in each of said bores, said driver having a portion thereof cut away so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, said cylinder plug bore having a groove in juxtaposed relation to its driver bore and cooperable with a surface of said driver formed by said cut away portion to block com plete movement of the driver into the cylinder bore when torque is applied to the plug.

14. In a cylinder pin-tumbler lock, a cylinder having a longitudinal plug bore, aplug in saidbore, aligned transverse bores in said cylinder and plug, a driver lying partially in each of said transverse bores and having a specially prepared surface, said driver and its transverse bores being formed so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, said slight rotation being adapted to disalign said transverse bores and to place said driver in an angular position in said bores, said longitudinal cylinder plug bore having a groove in substantially tangential relation to the transverse driver bore, and with which groove said specially prepared driver surface cooperates as said driver is moved from the transverse bore of said plug, whereby to prevent complete movement of the driver out of the transverse plug bore into the transverse cylinder bore when sufiicient torque is applied to the plug to disalign said transverse bores.

15. In a cylinder pin-tumbler lock, a cylinder having a bore, a plug in said bore, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said cylinder and plug, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver having a portion thereof cut away so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, and a specially and additional formed portion so positioned in said cylinder as to cooperate with a surface of said driver formed by said cut away portion to prevent complete movement of the driver into its cylinder bore when torque is applied to the plug.

16. In a cylinder pin-tumbler lock, a cylinder having a plug bore, a plug in said bore, aligned tumbler and driver bores in said cylinder and plug, a driver lying normally partially in each of said bores, said driver having a portion thereof cut away so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, said cylinder plug bore having a groove in juxtaposed relation to its driver bore and cooperable with a surface of said driver formed by said cut away portion to block complete movement of the driver into the cylinder bore when torque is applied to the plug.

17. In a cylinder pin-tumbler lock, a cylinder having a plug bore, a plug in said bore, aligned bores in said cylinder and plug, a driver lying partially in each of said bores, said driver and its bore being formed so as to permit slight rotation of said plug relatively to the cylinder upon torque being applied to the plug, said cylinder plug bore having a groove in tangential relation to the driver bore and with which a specially formed surface of said-driver intermediate its length cooperates to prevent complete movement of the driver into the cylinder bore when torque is ap plied to the plug.

FRANK E. THOMPSON. 

